Soccer is not for Women
It might have been true a few generations ago, when soccer was really only a stadium event. The real followers were those team membership card holders, all male with the exception of a few loving mothers that came to see “their babies” play. These staunch followers went with their team everywhere, while women, like early Christians, had to follow their faith and passion secretly, with the sole company of a portable radio.
This scenario is definitely history.
We can even say that soccer is ahead of other previously considered male sport “reserves”, with many female soccer media commentators and analysts, Spanish national team goalkeeper Iker Casillas’ girlfriend, Sara Carbonero, for one. The clubs have also noticed the shift and cater to women as much as men, to the point that women have changed soccer fashion! Who would have thought, not so long ago, that you would be able to buy your teams season shirt tailored to fit snuggly, show off your shoulders and with the added benefit of allowing your belly button watch the game too!
Just to drop a figure and eliminate any doubts, the 2010 FIFA World Cup global female audience share is estimated to be 42%, up one whole point from the 2006 World Cup, and if we look at U.S. Hispanic viewership (this is LatinMinds!), Univision female viewership is averaging over 32% and has been as high as 37%, and that’s before getting to semifinals.
And this is all for the good of the sport, relationships and collective entertainment (and the Real Madrids, Milans, and Chelseas of the world, that are making more money than ever!).
Those of you that have been around a little longer will remember when dinner conversations that turned to soccer split the table in two. Now, I am happy to say, the spectator sport of soccer is completely gender neutral, making it more universal and appealing than ever before, and a true ambassador of equality around the world (a bit of a stretch maybe?).
I don’t know when we will see the first professional, premier league, unisex game, but for those of you in New York I would suggest you check out the Puma soccer experience set up downtown next to Pier 17, where you will see men and women playing pick up games together.
What I can clearly picture and look forward to is regularly seeing professional, premier league, female referees…wouldn’t that put an end to challenging a call!
And now back to the World Cup, the single most important sporting event in the world…May the best team win! (For those of you less familiar with the sport, that would be Spain. España! España! Ole, ole, ole, ole…olee, olee).
Jimmy @ Latinminds
Amen! Great post Jimmy
I think that the estimated numbers of the female viewership is much less than it actually is this 2010 World Cup. And it’s all for the love of the sport and the love for sharing and cheering for your country. As a female who has watched almost every game this cup thus far (with the exception of the early morning one’s–a girl does need her beauty sleep!)
And to another point, its been brought to my attention that the women’s U.S. soccer team is ranked #1 by Fifa …..i think that men can certainly learn a thing or two from them! Soccer is definitely not just for men.
| Posted 1 year, 8 months agoNice report. But to clarify a few things:
1. Most european teams are losing money
| Posted 1 year, 7 months ago2. Most of these models are being sponsored to be on the stands and are being positioned to attract men.
3. The CR9 effect and other players, are attracting women to watch the game.
4. Unisex sport? Mention me one sports team discipline (other than Tennis and other sports that separate teams with nets) that can do that professionally.
5. The Summer Olympics is the most important sports event in the world. The FIFA World Cup may be the most viewed.
5. Good for the U.S. in terms of the ranking, but there is no comparison.